Firestorm Bastogne Campaign, Turn 6, Battle 5

Guest Writer: Vladimir

 

On Wednesday (2.11.2016.), Dejan and I played game of Firestorm Bastogne campaign, Turn 6, game 5, Longchamps „Northern Attack“ - 21 DEC44...

Dejan played US, Parachute Rifle Company

 

 

He got one Parachute Rifle Platoon (FV) as Firestorm troop.

While I played German, Panzergrenadier (2nd)
 

For Firestorm troops I got:

 

Gepanzerte Panzergrenadier (CV) and 12.2cm FH396(r) Volks Korps Artillery battery (CT)

 

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We played Hasty Attack. Light snow was in effect, limiting cross-country movement as “slow going”.

 

Dejan decided to defend his position with two big infantry platoons, on the flanks, and 155mm artillery in the middle of the line.

 

I attacked with two Panzergrenadier platoons (one on the left flank and one in the middle of the table) with two artillery platoons supporting the attack.

 

Turn 1. My left Pzgr. Platoon advanced through the forest on Chateau de Rolle, while one in the center used the road to reach houses on the crossroad. Since all Dejan units are concealed and GTG, my artillery could not locate the targets.

 

Turn 1. Dejan decided to return fire with his artillery and knocked out one of my Hummels. Infantry remained concealed and GTG.

 

German forces are advancing on the left and in the center of the table. US forces are spread behind the main road and hold Chateau de Rolle.

 

Turn 2. Pzgr. First reserves came on table. I decided to bring in another Panzergrenadier Platoon to support attack on the left wing. Platoon on the left reached end of the forest, and remain hidden. Other Pzgr. Platoon dismounted and occupied houses in the center of the table, getting ready to strike in the next turn. Artillery shooting was inaccurate, but managed to pin his artillery and infantry on the left.

 

Turn 2. Dejan forces remained stationery waiting for Germans to come in the open. He unpinned his artillery and managed to hit my Volks Artillery battery, but didn’t kill anything.

 

Situation on the German left flank. Two Pzgr. platoons are advancing on Chateau de Rolle. Black tanks are Hummel proxies.

Turn 3 Two platoons decided to show up from the reserve. This time I put mobile AA and another Pzgr. Platoon on the table. Mobile  AA came in the middle of the table and Pzgr. bolstered left flank. Pzgr.Platoon in the center of the table jumped from the houses and made their way into assault position. At the same time, second Pzgr. Platoon on the left flank was going through the woods to join platoon already there. After some not so successful shooting, I assaulted 155mm Artillery platoon, killing staff team and capturing two guns, while losing one infantry stand to defensive fire. I consolidated back to the houses to get away from his multiple MG in the vicinity.

German assault in the center managed to capture and destroy two 155mm guns. German infantry consolidated back to houses.

 

Turn 3. Delayed reserves were delayed some more…  Dejan unpinned remnants of artillery platoon and scored direct hit to the house I was hiding. Ouch. Three infantry stands were destroyed due to bunker buster gun. Second gun missed the other house, but I was down to 3 stands. Luckily I passed the moral test.

 

House hit by bunker buster… roof is gone, as well as all the occupants.

Turn 4. Last reserve came on the table, two flame thrower SdKfz 251/16. Since the snow limited movement to slow going, I put them on the road and advanced to the nearest houses in the crossroad. Pzgr. Platoon in the center decided to retreat and called their transports, while both Pzgr. platoons on the left flank went forward to the stone wall, in order to reach assault distance. My artillery managed to score a hit on the US 155mm guns, knocking off one, and the rest of the platoon failed moral check and decided it was time to go home. Mobile AA advanced on the Chateau de Rolle.

 

First wave of Pzgr. advancing on the Chateau de Rolle.

 

Turn 4. Dejan received his first reserves. His infantry showed in the middle of his table side, and immediately advanced through the forest on the left flank.

 

Followed by the second platoon.

 

Turn 5. Infantry finally got into assault position. I will attack with two infantry platoons, hoping that one will manage to drive enemy from the building and contest objective. After preparatory bombardment and some successful shooting I jumped into the building and after short but fierce combat, managed to secure both buildings with minimal losses. On the other side, Dejan failed moral check and lost one infantry platoon.

 

Turn 5. Dejan received two reserves, one infantry platoon and one anti-tank gun platoon. Anti-tank gun platoon came on the far right side of the table, but infantry came in the center and started to march toward to join the battle at the chateau. He tried to dig in his  infantry on the edge of the forest, and contest objective until his second infantry platoon can arrive, but failed.

 

 

And the third. At this point German forces assaulted Chateau de Rolle and managed to secure it.

 

Turn 6. I opened fire from all weapons available. Two Pzgr. platoons, three mobile AA guns, and three APC shredded enemy platoon in the forest to pieces. What survived, failed moral test and retreated. On the other flank, my artillery managed to score some hits on his anti-tank guns and pinned nearby infantry platoon in process.

 

Turn 6. Dejan lost the platoon that was securing objective, and the other platoon was too far away to reach it in time. At this point we shook hands.

Germans secured  Chateau de Rolle objective, and turned American flank. US forces decided to retreat to more defensible position.

 

Result: German victory 6-1

Firestorm Bastogne Campaign, Turn 5, Battle 4

 

On Saturday, Vladimir and I played game for Firestorm Bastogne campaign, Turn 5. We played game 4, Longchamps „Northern Attack“ from 20DEC44...

Vladimir played Gepanzerte Panzergrenadierkompanie, and has 6 Platoons and 2 additional Fire storm platoons, all Fearless Veteran, except Volks Artillery Battery (FK43):

• HQ - CiC Panzerfaust SMG, 2IC Panzerfaust SMG, 2 x SdKfz 251/1 Half-Track
• Gepanzerte Panzergrenadier Platoon – Cmd Panzerfaust MG, 6 x Panzerfaust MG, 4 x SdKfz 251/1 HT
• Panzer Platoon – 3 x Panzer IV Ausf. J
• Gepanzerte Panzergrenadier Platoon – Cmd Panzerfaust MG, 6 x Panzerfaust MG, 4 x SdKfz 251/1 HT
• Armoured Flame-thrower Platoon – 3 x SdKfz 251/16 (Flam)
• Armoured Heavy Artillery Battery – Cmd SMG, Staff, Kfz 15, Kfz 68, Panzer IV Ausf. J, 3 x Hummel
• Panzer AA Gun Platoon – 3 x Mobelwagen (3,7cm)

And dice decided that he get followed Firestorm Platoons:

• Panzer Platoon – 4 x Panzer IV Ausf. J
• Volks Artillery Battery – Cmd SMG, stuff, observer, 3 x 8,8cm FK43 (PaK43)

I organized defense with Parachute Rifle Company, and made list with 7 platoons:

• HQ – CiC Carabine, 2IC Carabine
• Parachute Rife Platoon – Cmd SMG, 5 x Bazooka, 3 x Rifle/MG, M2 60mm mortar
• Parachute Rife Platoon – Cmd SMG, 3 x Bazooka, 4 x Rifle/MG, M2 60mm mortar
• Parachute MG Platoon – Cmd Carabine, 4 x M1919 LMG
• Tank Destroyer Platoon - .50 call Rece Jeep, 2 x M20 Scout Car, 2 x M10 3in GMC (late)
• Airborne AT Platoon – Cmd Carabine, 4 x M1 57mm gun (late)
• Rifle Platoon (2’nd ID) – Cmd Rifle, 4 x Bazooka, 6 x Rifle
• Field Artillery Battery (155mm) – Cmd Carabine, Staff, Observer Carabine, Jeep, 4 x M1 155mm

Plus one Firestorm Troop platoon, to total of 8 platoons:

• Parachute Rife Platoon – Cmd SMG, Bazooka, 6 x Rifle/MG, M2 60mm mortar

Mission we play was Hasty Attack (Vladimir rolled 5)...

 

I deploy two Parachute Rifle Platoons, Big Artillery and M10’s Security Section. All others go to the delayed reserve...

 

 

1'st Parachute Rifle Platoon was deployed on left side

M10's security section are in middle, and 2'nd Parachute Rifle Platoon little right

 

And Big Artillery (M1 155mm howitzers) are far right

 

 

Tank destroyer Security Section

 

Vladimir Deployed two Gepanzerte Panzergrenadier Platoons, Panzer IV’s and Hummel's, all remaining left in reserve. One dismounted Gepanzerte Panzergrenadier Platoon advancing on left side, Hummel's are also on left side (poxyed with turetless Panzer IV's) and another Gepanzerte Panzergrenadier Platoon along with Panzer IV's move forward on the road, because we have moderate Rain in Turn 1.

 



Panzer IV's press forward on the road, followed by the SdKfz 251/1

 

 

After moving forward, he made stormtroop move with all troops except Hummel's... Panzer IV movw from road to avid US Arty tepmate, and Grenadier dismounted from their Half-tracks.

 

 Dismounted grenadiers stormtroop forward thru the wood

 

 

In my turn I try to bombard hid Panzer IV's, and manage to range-in them on second attempt, hot one and... Bailed them out...

 

In Turn two rain was light, Germany gets first reserve platoon - another PzIV, and all Panzers go forward to engage my Big Guns,

 

And destroyed one...

After that they made stormtroop move

Grenadiers also advanced and occupy houses in the middle of the table

 

 In my 2'nd turn I finally destroyed one German tank.

 

 

Rain is still light on Turn 3, and Germans get another two reserve platoons. Flame half-track and Panzer Anti Aircraft platoons arrived and moved forward on the road in the middle...

Dismounted Grenadier in the wood on the left bring they transport and embarked in, and grenadier in the middle of the table cautiously continue to move from house to house looking for the cover.

 

Panzer IV's continue attack to my Big guns destroying another one...

 

Flame Half-tracks and Panzer AA Guns on advance...

 

 

With only two 155mm howitzer's I managed to kill another Pz IV

 

Mounted grenadiers in the wood

 

Dismounted grenadiers in the houses, and Flam HT's in the back

 

 

Flamm HT's and Panzer AA Guns on the move with last unit arrived from reserve on the back (8,8cm FK43)

 

Panzer IV destroyed 3'rd M1 howitzer...

And redeployed with stormtroop move in expectation on arriving my reserves...

At this stage of battle, I start to forgetting taking pictures...
Off the pictures Gepanzerte Grenadier Platoon from the wood on the left pinned down my para platoon with help of the Flamm HT's and Panzer AA Platoon, and made German famous mounted assault on them. In defensive fire, one Hanomag is bail-out, germans kill two of mine teams, I made my moral check to counter assault, destroyed two Hanomags, Germans motivated self for counter attack, and killed remaining of my teams close enough. Remaining of my platoon ben to far to be attacked.
 

On my Turn 5, I finally get some reserve units... M1 57mm AT guns come on the right side and Parachute MG platoon on the left side of table, and I revealed M10's from ambush...
M10's and M1 57mm guns, destroyed 3 Pz IV, leaving both German Tank platoon with only one tank... And bot platoons passed his morale check...
LGM's from MG Platoon finished remaining's of grenadier platoon who assaulted my Parachute Rifle platoon.

There again I forget to take pictures... Pz IV in retaliation destroyed one M10.

Another Gepanzerte Grenadier Platoon mounted in their Half-tracks and attacked same Para Platoon who attacked their friends turn before. I Kill two Half-tracks of five, and loose all but two teams from that platoon, and they made their morale check... Germans fail their and withdraw.

Last of my platoons from reserve arrived in the wood on the middle of my deployment zone, and go at the double thru wood thanks they special rule.

Surviving M10 move left, and kill one Hanomag.

One of Surviving Pz IV bailed-out M10's, and I fail my morale check to stay on the table, including reroll from CiC! And CiC run out of the table with M10...

 

German's relay and continue attack on objective. Two of surviving Half-tracks, three Panzer AA guns and Flame HT's finish my MG Platoon, and try to kill two of Parachute Rifle Platoons, but failed...

 

And there time in run out and Germans fail to secure anyone of objectives...

 

I have 2 platoon destroyed: Parachute MG and Tank Destroyer Platoon...

Germans loose one complete Gepanerte Paznergrenadier Platoon.

 

US Paras win this battle closely 4:3, but win is win...

 

 
Right site of the my deployment zone. M1 57mmAT guns, one M1 155mm howitzer far right, in the corner, with Cmd and staff team in the big house right ot the church, and Parachute Rifle Platoon far front...

 
Left side od my deployment, on the left firestorm Parachute Rifle Platoon, and on the right side two surviving teams from first compulsory Parachute Rifle Platoon, both of them denying objective to the German. 

And in the middle of this two pictures are Rifle Platoon from 2'nd ID...

Nice and interesting game, and thanks to Vladimir who is always good and tough opponent...

Firestorm Bastogne Campaign, Turn 4, Battle 6

Some time a go, we start playing international campaign in tabletop game Flames of War agonized by WWPD.NET.

Campaign is about last big World War II German offensive - Ardennes Offensive.

We cover battle For Bastogne, and six days before them...

Last weekend we play Turn 4 games in our wargaming club in Belgrade named Zmaj (Dragon)...

In 2'nd and 3'rd Round games is played only by Milan and me, and in turn 4 we get reinforcement: Vladimir and Nemanja join our ranks...

Milan played against Nemanja, and Vladimir VS me.

Vladimir chooses to we play Game 6, "Rachamps"

He played Panzergrenadier list:

• CiC Panzerfaust SMG, 2iC Panzerfaust SMG
• Panzergrenadier Platoon - CMD Panzerfaust Assault Rifle, 4 x Panzerfaust Assault Rifle, 2 x Panzerfaust MG, 3 x Captured M3 Halftrack
• Panzergrenadier Platoon - CMD Panzerfaust MG, 4 x Panzerfaust MG, Tank-hinter
• Flame-thrower Platoon - 2 x SdKfz 251-16 (Flamm)
• Assault Gun Platoon - 3 x StuG G (Late)
• Panzer Platoon - 3 x Panzer IVJ
• Gepanzerte Panzerpionier Platoon - CMD Pionier Panzerfaust SMG, SdKfz 251/1, 6 x Pionier MG, 3 SdKfz 251/7 (Pionier)

He rolled for Firestorm Troop, and get:

• Armoured Artillery Battery with 3 Wespes

Total 7 Platoon's all Confident Veterans

I choose to play Armoured Rifle from 7'th Armoured Division:

• CiC Carabine, Jeep, 2iC Carabine, M3 with .50call AA
• Armoured Rifle Platoon - CMD Rifle, 5 x Rifle, 1 x M2 60mm mortar, 2 x M1919 LMG, 4 x bazooka, M3 37mm gun, 2 x M3 with .50call AA MG, 2 x M3 with .30call AA MG
• Full Armoured Rifle Platoon - CMD Rifle, 5 x Rifle, 1 x M2 60mm mortar, 2 x M1919 LMG, 5 x bazooka, 2 x M3 with .50call AA MG, 2 x M3 with .30call AA MG
• Armoured AT Platoon - 3 x M1 57mm AT gun (Late)
• Armoured MG Platoon - 4 x M1917 HMG
• Armoured Mortar platoon - M2 with .50call AA MG, 2 x M4 81mm MMC with .50call AA MG
• Light Tank Platoon - 5 x M24 Chafee
• Engineer Combat Platoon - CMD Pioneer Rifle, 4 x Bazooka, 4 x Pioneer Rifle, 2 x M1917 HMG
• Field Artillery Battery (155mm) - 4 x M1 155mm Howitzer

Total 8 Platoon's, all Confident Trained

We rolled for mission and dice decided to play Breakthrough.

Defender (me) deployed first. Because in that mission defender have Mobile reserves rule I decided to leave Armoured AT and Armoured Mortar platoon in reserve, and place Chafee's on table. Also both Armoured Rifle platoons send their transports in base.

In one quarter, I deployed Big Arty, and in front of them in cover Chafee's, and more advanced one dismounted Armoured Rifle Platoon.
Engineer's are on left flank of deployment

In diagonally quarter are another dismounted Armored Rifle Platoon reinforced with HMG Platoon

Vladimir deployed his own Arty Platoon behind wood, and PzIV's and StuG's on edge of his deployment zone, and infantry platoon and dismounted Pionier Platoon in wood in front of deployment zone, and OP PzIV far left on the edge of the wood far front left.
Flame SdKfz's and another infantry platoon are held in reserve...

Deployment from German side of table

My favorite Big Guns... Ardennes Collection allow me to field them in some list without need to bring some smaller arty too...

For 1'st turn Vladimir rolled 6's for rain. and he decided to not move tanks at all, and n movement infantry moved forward in the wood

OP PzIV spotted my tanks and Wespes destroyed one of them, and pinned 155mm Arty too...

In my 1'st turn Chafee's redeployed on left...

... and Combat Engineers on left move forward, and looks to get some cover

 

Engineers moved on left flank 

 

In my opposite deployment quarter second Armoured Rifle move forward too. Only M3 37mm gun stayed in place to avoid skill test for moving thru the mud.

2'nd turn is rolled 5 for moderate rain, and German armour pressed forward. One PzIV and one StuG bogged down in mud and others destroyed another M24.
Also one of Grenadier platoon moved forward, and German Arty pinned down my Big Guns (again).
For me first unit arrive from reserve, and that be M4 81mm MMC's, and fired to German infantry outside wood, and killed one team.

On left side, Combat Engineer's press forward again and occupy two house next (but little bit far) to objective. CiC go on opposite way to oversee what is going with artillery.

Far left other Armoured infantry Platoon again advanced to secure 2'nd objective, and they M3 37mm gun go to them.

German advancing grenadier platoon on outskirt of wood.

Rain in 3'rd turn slowed down (we rolled 3).
Mentioned Grenadier's finally get to the wood, and PzIV's and StuG's destroyed third M24. Remaining two decided that in staying is too danger and they fled.

StuG's and PzIV's redeployed after stormtroop move.

In 3'rd turn arrive my last unit from reserve, and I put them next to big guns, because they sneaky infantry in the wood.

Armoured Mortars and LMG from Armoured Infantry managed to kill two more teams of advancing German infantry in my deployment area.

Scary German armour in front of my infantry, and again on the far left flank my another armoured infantry platoon go forward a little more.

4'th turn see light rain again, and also 1'st German unit arrived from reserve. Vladimir decided to bring forward flame throwing SdKfz's 251/16. Also PzIV and StuG platoons started advancing to the objectives. They took long (a hope) more safe way along they board edge.

Flame trowing halftracks kills 4 teams from my Combat  Engineer Platoon.
There I starting to forget taking some pictures, because battle progress, and I start thinking all about gaming not taking pictures. In my turn, Big Guns finally unpinned them, and ranged German tanks at long distance, but achieve only one hit (I get 3 tanks under template), but failed my Fire Power Test (2+) to destroy them, and tank survive. Also bazookas moved to another building to try destroying flame SdKfz's, sadly all missed...

5'th turn again see heavy rain, and arriving another one (and final) German platoon from reserve. Because heavy rain the arrived by the foot.
German Pioneir Platoon in the wood set in the motion and start advancing.
Also newly arrived grenadiers start Shooting at my infantry together with SdKfz 251/16 and managed to kill 5 of my teams, enough for pinning them. StuG tried lucky shot at M3 37mm gun without result.
German Grenadiers go to assaulting my infantry, but suffered 6 hits in defensive fire, and brake off, and two died in process.

German armored platoons pressing forward after realizing that no American troops on that side...

StuG G Platoon just before Stormtroop move... 

In the middle, Panzerpionier Platoon at move...

After  German flame-thrower's inflicted significant loose to my Combat Engineer's they decide that is time to some retaliation, and moved forward to meet them. Combined Efforts from them, and M3 37mm gun results with a one destroyed and one bailed-out vehicle. Armoured Infantry Platoon also finished Panzer grenadier platoon And with assaulting abandoned position consolidated to be at both objectives and less attractive target for Germany Artillery.
At this point I managed to destroy 2 of 7 platoons of my opponent...

View to a table from German side...

Another one from my side of table with victorious, but in the open US infantry.

From turn 6, rain is gone, and German attack is at full strength. Wespes managed to destroy another M1 155mm howitzer.

German grenadier in the wood regrouping and preparing to finally disable my artillery and AT Guns.

German Panzer Pionier Platoon arrived to the edge on the wood expecting their Hanomags to arrive...

 

StuG slowly going to the objective, and destroying my poor little M3 37mm gun.

Armoured Infantry Platoon finally get some time to dug-in expecting German panzer's to arrive.

Combat Engineers also withdraw to occupy house, and find some bullet proof cover.

Wespe destroy transports from Armoured AT Platoon, luckily, guns itself survived, and pinned down...

Panzerpioneir Platoon gets in their transports and go in direction of objectives. And started to shoot an dug-in, go to ground Armoured infantry in my deployment zone, and managed to pined them down

Armoured infantry platoon in my deployment zone refuse to motivate them to unpin themselves
Remaining M1 155mm howitzers and M4 81mm MMC mortars do smoke bombardment to German tanks to reduce amount of shooting to infantry...

 

View from German side of table...

Grenadiers in the wood next to my M1 Howitzers tried assault to my guns and lost 2 teams from defensive fire, and killed AA Guns Platoon commander and capture another one M1's, but must brake off. After retreating they manage to pass moral test to stay on table.

Big, bad German tanks approaching to my infantry on objective

2'nd Armoured Infantry Platoon (2 team shorter) start preparing to move to defend objective...

At that moment I totally, completely, and unforgettable forget to make pictures...

To the end of game I destroyed remaining of Grenadier platoon on right side of my deployment zone, threatening my artillery (3'rd destroyed platoon).

And sacrificed M4 81mm MMC mortars and  Combat Engineer Platoon to defending one of objectives, against nasty German tanks...
Also Vladimir destroyed M1 155mm artillery platoon (or M1 57mm AT gun platoon, I'm not sure, but that is irrelevant)...

And in last German turn they start shooting at my remaining infantry platoon on objective with (almost) everything they have, and inflicted heavy looses to them, and after that they assault them, and have 0 (zero) hits.

I pass morale test at the end of shooting phase, and motivation test in close combat. After that I break off.
He move forward, but I am been to far...
Again moral test is passed by me, and Armoured Infantry Platoon stay on the table despite heavy casualties.

And finally come moment to determine who win game...

At the start of my final game turn, I0m been forced to roll company moral because I have 3 of 7 platoons on the table (I loose Chafee's, Combat Engineer's, M4 81mm MMC's and M1 155mm Howitzers (or M1 57mm AT guns)).

And... I passed company morale test and win the game...

Very fun and intense game...

US wins, but with some fortune Germans can win also...

Congrats to my opponent, and greetings to all from Belgrade, Serbia...